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Child Life Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Child Life Specialist

Boston, MA · On-site

$53K - $77K/yr

The Child Life Specialist is responsible and accountable for planning and implementing therapeutic activities and programs to meet psychosocial and developmental needs and facilitates the adjustment ...

First Shift (United States of America) Child Life Specialist Works with members of the multidisciplinary team to facilitate and implement psychosocial support interventions to decrease stress and ...

Child Life Specialist

Anson, TX · On-site

$24 - $30/hr

A facility near Anson, Texas, is seeking a full-time, permanent Child Life Specialist to join their team. This position comes with relocation assistance to qualified candidates! See details below!

Child Life Specialist

Duluth, MN · On-site

$26.76 - $40.14/hr

Must currently have a Child Life Professional Certification or be currently enrolled in a Child Life Professional Certification or current enrollment in a Child Life Professional program. Education ...

Child Life Specialist

Boston, MA · On-site

$53K - $77K/yr

The Child Life Specialist is responsible and accountable for planning and implementing therapeutic activities and programs to meet psychosocial and developmental needs and facilitates the adjustment ...

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How much do child life jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for child life in the United States is $16.74, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $18.03 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a child life specialist?

Child Life specialists are trained professionals who support children and families in hospitals and other healthcare settings. They help children cope with the stress and anxiety of medical procedures, hospitalization, and illness through play, education, and emotional support. Their goal is to promote healthy development and reduce the trauma associated with medical experiences. Child Life specialists also provide guidance to parents and collaborate with the healthcare team to ensure the child's emotional and developmental needs are met.

How does a child life specialist support children and families during stressful medical procedures?

Child Life Specialists play a crucial role in helping children and their families cope with the emotional and psychological challenges of hospitalization and medical procedures. They use age-appropriate explanations, therapeutic play, and distraction techniques to reduce anxiety and promote understanding. Additionally, they often collaborate with medical staff to advocate for the needs of pediatric patients and provide guidance to families on how to support their child’s well-being during treatment. This role requires strong communication skills, empathy, and the ability to adapt interventions to each child’s unique needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a child life specialist?

To thrive as a Child Life Specialist, you need a bachelor’s degree in child life, psychology, or a related field, along with knowledge of child development and family systems. Certification as a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) and experience with therapeutic play, patient education tools, and hospital information systems are commonly required. Exceptional communication, empathy, and stress-management skills help you support children and families coping with medical challenges. These competencies are crucial for reducing patient anxiety, fostering resilience, and improving overall patient experiences in healthcare environments.

Are child life specialists in demand?

Child life specialists are in growing demand due to increased awareness of the importance of psychosocial support for pediatric patients. They work in hospitals, healthcare settings, and community programs, often requiring certification and strong interpersonal skills. Employment prospects are generally favorable, especially in hospitals with specialized pediatric units.

How many years does it take to become a child life specialist?

Becoming a child life specialist typically requires a bachelor's degree in child life, child development, or a related field, which takes about four years. Additionally, completing a 480-hour internship and obtaining certification through the Child Life Professional Certification Examination are required, which can add several months to a year to the process.

What can I do with a child life degree?

A child life degree prepares individuals to work with children and families in healthcare settings, focusing on emotional support, developmentally appropriate education, and coping strategies. Graduates often work as child life specialists, providing psychosocial support in hospitals, clinics, or community programs, and may need certification from the Child Life Professional Certification Examination.
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Child Life Specialist

Boston Medical Center

Boston, MA • On-site

$53K - $77K/yr

Part-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 24 days ago


Boston Medical Center rating

6.9

Company rating: 6.9 out of 10

Based on 108 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

550th of 1,060 rated hospitals


Job description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Child Life Specialist is responsible and accountable for planning and implementing therapeutic activities and programs to meet psychosocial and developmental needs and facilitates the adjustment of children and their families to health care experiences. Responsibilities include program development the assigned clinical area, management of fiscal and human resources and collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.

Position: Child Life Specialist

Department: Child Life

Schedule: 16 Hours (Days)

16 Hours a week - Day time hours (8 hour shifts)

This position will be for clinical coverage within the inpatient pediatric unit/pediatric intensive care unit. Coverage will also include consults in additional areas of the hospital as needed.

The Child Life Specialist ensures that comprehensive services are provided to minimize the negative impact of trauma illness and hospitalization by addressing the emotional cognitive and developmental needs of patients and families throughout their healthcare experience.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

  • Seeking experienced Certified Child Life Specialist -pursuing an innovational role and approach to care.

  • Assists patients and families in coping with illness and hospitalization.

  • Comfort with diversity, an array of illnesses and diagnosis as well as cultures.

  • Comfort with alldevelopmental ages ranging infancy throughyoungadult.

  • Strong interpersonal skillset with the ability to beflexible and multitask throughout the duration of shifts.

  • Ability to prioritize, take initiative, and be self-motivated.

  • Resourcefulness while providing developmentally appropriate preparation and education to patients and families regarding their healthcare experiences.

  • Documents and maintains updated patient information pertaining to services provided.

  • Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team in an effort to support a family centered care approach to services.

  • Provides individualized therapeutic interventions to assist with support of emotional, cognitive, and developmental needs.

  • Normalizes environment to reduce impact of healthcare experiences on development and coping.

  • Provides legacy and bereavement support for patients and families encountering grief as needed.

  • Provides program development for the assigned clinical area.

  • Maintains an appropriate, safe and supportive environment for children and families in the patient care setting.

  • Participates in meetings included but not limited to; patient care rounding, unit(s) meetings and child life staff meeting.

  • Works alongside manager and child life staff pertaining to donations, budget for resources and supply needs.

  • Participates in volunteer and student training, support and supervision.

  • Adheres to infection control policy set forth by institution.

  • Preferred strong knowledge of hospital practices, procedures and medical terminology.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

  • Baccalaureate degree in Child Life or closely related field. Experience preferred. Requires completion of a Child Life Internship (600 hours) under the direct supervision of a Child Life Specialist and is eligible and passes certification exam within 6 months of hire.

  • Baccalaureate degree in child life or closely related field.

  • Masters Preferred.

  • Completion of a child life internship (600 hours) under the direct supervision of a child life specialist Required.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

Certification as a child life specialist within 6 months of hire.

EXPERIENCE:

Experience preferred.

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Compensation Range:

$53,000.00- $77,000.00

This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, skills, and certifications/licensures as they directly relate to position requirements; as well as business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market-competitiveness. In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes, but is not limited to, benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family well-being.

NOTE: This range is based on Boston-area data, and is subject to modification based on geographic location.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

According to the FTC, there has been a rise in employment offer scams. Our current job openings are listed on our website and applications are received only through our website. We do not ask or require downloads of any applications, or "apps" job offers are not extended over text messages or social media platforms. We do not ask individuals to purchase equipment for or prior to employment.


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About Boston Medical Center

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Boston Medical Center (BMC) is more than a hospital. It's a network of support and care that touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in need each year. It is the largest and busiest provider of trauma and emergency services in New England. Emphasizing community-based care, BMC is committed to providing consistently excellent and accessible health services to all-and is the largest safety-net hospital in New England. The hospital is also the primary teaching affiliate of the nationally ranked Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and a founding partner of Boston HealthNet - an integrated health care delivery systems that includes many community health centers. Join BMC today and help us achieve our Vision 2030 which is a long-term goal to make Boston the healthiest urban population in the world.

Industry

Hospitals

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Boston, MA, US

Year founded

1996